A Critical Approach to Introductions to Law

Reviews / Votes

'This major work offers a detailed analysis of the underlying tensions in introductions to law, examining them from comparative, historical and interdisciplinary viewpoints. It vividly illustrates their role in shaping legal knowledge and promoting critical insight. Its originality lies in drawing on other disciplines to rethink and enrich legal methodologies, offering a stimulating and innovative perspective.' -- Manon Altwegg-Boussac, Universite Paris-Est Creteil, France 'Do introductions to law provide a full and adequate indication of the scope and depth of legal knowledge? Professor Geoffrey Samuel attempts to answer this question through a comparative approach that embraces not just introductory law books in some civil law jurisdictions but introductory works in disciplines other than law. The result is a fascinating monograph that contributes both to comparative legal studies and to legal epistemology in general.' -- Franz Werro, Fribourg University, Switzerland and Georgetown University Law Center, USA 'Introductions to law present themselves as simple, neutral gateways into legal study. In A Critical Approach to Introductions to Law, Geoffrey Samuel takes introductions seriously - revealing them as intellectually charged sites where assumptions about law, knowledge, authority, and method are quietly formed. Drawing on comparative perspectives and interdisciplinary insight, and with characteristic wit and critical acuity, Samuel turns a seemingly modest genre into a rich object of reflection. He invites readers to see how legal thinking is shaped from its very first steps, transforming the "introduction" itself into a subject worthy of genuine theoretical attention.' -- Helge Dedek, McGill University, Canada 'In considering the relationship between introductions to law and legal knowledge itself, Geoffrey Samuel has produced a text which speaks to anyone interested in the nature of law and legal concepts. Erudite and stimulating, it provides its readers with much food for thought.' -- Fiona Cownie, Keele University, UK 'Introductions to law guide beginners explain basic legal concepts and how the legal system works. Geoffrey Samuel discusses the deeper dimensions of introductions whilst highlighting the importance of learning from other disciplines. This preceptive book sheds light on the hidden relevance of introductions to law offering essential insights for those who want to understand what it means to have knowledge of law. Samuel provides the foundational framework for future debates on the role and function of introductions to law.' -- Jaakko Husa, University of Helsinki, Finland